Worrying hyena problem in KZN

A camper at Cape Vidal in iSimangaliso Wetland Park was attacked in his tent by two hyenas, fuelling concerns about escalating wildlife encounters after similar incidents at the campsite.

- By Tony Carnie

Nicolas Hohls (27) from Sunset Farm in Eshowe was sleeping in his tent late on Saturday when two hyenas attacked him at the popular seaside camping site at Cape Vidal in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

He suffered bite wounds to his head, face, hand and leg, and was recovering in the Netcare Alberlito Hospital in Ballito after plastic surgery to his face on 31 August.

A Johannesburg businessman lost part of his nose after being bitten by a hyena in his tent at the same campsite just three weeks ago, and a Nelspruit man was mauled on his face when a hyena clamped its jaws through the plastic gauze of his tent window in 2016, also at the Cape Vidal campsite.

Although the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife agency, which is responsible for conservation management in the park, has cautioned all visitors not to feed animals and to ensure that tents are closed securely at night, other regular visitors have suggested that the regular appearance of hyenas at this camp was “a disaster waiting to happen”.

Describing the latest attack, well-known Eshowe farmer Colin Hohls said he was sleeping in a roof tent nearby when he heard his son screaming in agony.